Israel targets our partners in Palestine and deliberately disrupts their essential work. The impact on the health of Palestinians is enormous.
A deliberate strategy of repression
This is not a new strategy. The Israeli government has been silencing Palestinian critics and social organisations for years. Our partners know this all too well. The Health Work Committees (HWC), Bisan and Awda are targets of repression because these organisations defend Palestinian rights. Their offices and health centres are closed or bombed, their staff arrested and their funding cut. Israel arrested Shatha, then director of HWC, in July 2021 and wrongfully detained her for 11 months. Ubai Al-Aboudi, director of Bisan, suffered the same fate in 2019 and 2020.
On 9 June 2021, the Israeli army destroyed HWC's offices. They took the computers and closed the building for six months. Three Awda health centres in Gaza were bombed. Israeli attacks and smear campaigns are a deliberate strategy to silence all criticism.
Health under apartheid
The impact on the health of Palestinians is enormous. Bisan's research shows this. The staff of Awda, HWC and Bisan has decreased significantly over the last ten years. So have their budgets. As a result, these organisations are reaching fewer Palestinians with their vital work. Due to Israeli repression, HWC has had to close all its mobile clinics, for example. Bisan estimates that as a result, HWC is reaching 67,000 fewer Palestinians with its health services, particularly in remote areas.
The People’s Health Movement (PHM) recently highlighted the differences in life expectancy and infant mortality between Palestinians and Israelis. The conclusion is clear: apartheid and occupation are harmful to health!
International solidarity against repression
Together with PHM and Palestinian, Filipino and Congolese partner organisations, we continue to raise awareness at national and international level about the repression of Palestinian health activists and social organisations. In this way, we are securing support from political circles.
In October 2021, Israel unjustly placed six Palestinian social organisations, including our partner Bisan, on a list of terrorist organisations. Global criticism ensued and a solidarity campaign was launched. #StandWithThe6 quickly gained momentum.
In July, nine EU Member States, including Belgium, confirmed their support for Palestinian organisations. «Israel has provided no substantial evidence of terrorism,» we heard. Critical voices, activists and social movements must never be silenced! Together with our Minister for Development Cooperation, Meryame Kitir, we will continue to hammer home this message.
International solidarity remains vital!
A podcast by #NotATarget on repression in Palestine
Our second episode of the #NotATarget podcast deals with the Palestinian situation. Islah Jad, professor and prominent figure in the Palestinian resistance, discusses with Marc Botenga, Member of the European Parliament, on Israel's violent repression, possible courses of action and the EU's role in the conflict.
